HEALTH watchdogs today place a question mark over the proposed major reform of hospital services in North Wales.

The region’s community health council, CHC, declared that it cannot give a “green light” to any of the plans by the Betsi Cadwaldr health board.

The CHC wants more assurances before it can judge if the plans are in the interest of patients. If the board fails to provide the required information, the CHC could refer the plans to health minister Lesley Griffiths for a decision.

The CHC, which represents patients’ interests, said: “There is not enough information about both the benefits and risks of its proposals for patients and carers – and what it will do to deal with those risks.”

The health board has been consulting over plans to axe five community hospitals at Blaenau Ffestiniog; Flint; Llangollen and Prestatyn or Rhyl. Minor injury units including those at Colwyn Bay, Mold Chirk and Ruthin could also be shut.

Another proposal is moving neonatal intensive care services to the Wirral.

But a decision on hospital closures which could save £65m has now been delayed till January.

Older people mental health services, vascular and major arterial surgery are also under the microscope.

The CHC said it strongly supported delivering more services in the community but had ‘some serious concerns’ about financial and workforce planning and relationships with GPs. The proposals for community hospitals ‘may represent an erosion of community-based services’.

Pat Billingham, the CHC’s chief officer said more than 2,000 people sent their views to the council.

“We need more information and assurances about services for people in rural areas, respite care for patients and carers, and closer work with local authorities before we can look at the proposals again.”

CHC chair Dr Christine Evans said: “We do not, at the moment, think any of the proposals are in the interest of people who use services and we cannot support the proposals for X-ray services and minor injuries units at all.”

Betsi Cadwaladr UHB said the council recognised the “significant challenges the NHS faces” and a need for change. “We also recognise they have expressed concerns regarding the detail of some of the proposals and over the next six to eight weeks will work with the CHC to respond to these.”

Darren Millar, Tory shadow health minister, said: “It is unacceptable that the community health council feel they were not given sufficient information to be able to properly scrutinise such drastic proposals. If they can’t access such data, what hope is there for residents across North Wales?”